Astronomy 16.1-18.2

(B) lower frequency.

Ultraviolet light is sometimes described as either UV-A or UV-B. The UV-A variety is supposed to be less damaging to your skin. You can conclude that of the two types, the UV-A variety has the (A) higher frequency. (B) lower frequency. (C) higher intensity. (D) lower intensity.

(D) smoke and dust: It blocks the sunlight.

A large asteroid impact causes the extinction of whole species mainly by the effects of the (A) light and heat: It incinerates them. (B) blast and shock wave: It blows them away. (C) noise: It scares them to death. (D) smoke and dust: It blocks the sunlight.

(C) 1000 to 10,000 meters.

An asteroid whose impact generates a planet-wide catastrophe, changing the climate everywhere, probably has a diameter of about (A) 1 meter. (B) 50 meters. (C) 1000 to 10,000 meters. (D) 100,000 meters or larger.

(A) 50 meters.

An asteroid whose impact generates an explosion similar to that of a typical nuclear weapon probably has a diameter of about (A) 50 meters. (B) 1000 to 10,000 meters. (C) 100,000 meters or larger. (D) 1 meter.

(A) more damage.

As compared to lower frequency electromagnetic radiation, higher frequency electromagnetic radiation will usually cause (A) more damage. (B) about the same damage. (C) less damage.

(C) are responsible for moving the tectonic plates.

Convection currents in the Earth's Mantle (A) do not happen because solid rock does not move. (B) happen but do not affect the crust. (C) are responsible for moving the tectonic plates. (D) are responsible for land tides. (E) cause mass extinctions.

(C) one of the four most common elements in the universe.

Carbon is (A) the most common element in the universe. (B) relatively uncommon --- not in the top ten most common elements. (C) one of the four most common elements in the universe. (D) a compound and not an element. (E) the second most abundant element in the universe.

(D) 4 times as high.

Compared to the frequency of photons absorbed during a transition from a -5ev state to a -4ev state, transitions from the -5ev state to a -1ev state would correspond to absorbing photons whose frequency is (A) the same. (B) 2 times as high. (C) 3 times as high. (D) 4 times as high. (E) 5 times as high.

(C) 3 times as high.

Compared to the frequency of photons absorbed during a transition from a -5ev state to a -4ev state, transitions from the -5ev state to a -2ev state would correspond to absorbing photons whose frequency is (A) the same. (B) 2 times as high. (C) 3 times as high. (D) 4 times as high. (E) 5 times as high.

(B) 2 times as high.

Compared to the frequency of photons absorbed during a transition from a -5ev state to a -4ev state, transitions from the -5ev state to a -3ev state would correspond to absorbing photons whose frequency is (A) the same. (B) 2 times as high. (C) 3 times as high. (D) 4 times as high. (E) 5 times as high.

(E) 5 times as high.

Compared to the frequency of photons absorbed during a transition from a -5ev state to a -4ev state, transitions from the -6ev state to a -1ev state would correspond to absorbing photons whose frequency is (A) the same. (B) 2 times as high. (C) 3 times as high. (D) 4 times as high. (E) 5 times as high.

(B) similar to a nuclear explosion.

If an asteroid that is 50 meters in diameter strikes the Earth, the result is likely to be (A) negligible. (B) similar to a nuclear explosion. (C) a planet-wide catastrophe

(C) a planet-wide catastrophe.

If an asteroid that is one kilometer in diameter strikes the Earth, the result is likely to be (A) negligible. (B) similar to a nuclear explosion. (C) a planet-wide catastrophe.

(B) is multiplied by 2. Yes. The energy is proportional to the frequency. Divide 4×1014Hz by 2×1014Hz and get just 4/2 = 2 so that the frequency was multiplied by 2. That means the photon energy was multiplied by that same amount.

If the frequency of electromagnetic radiation goes from 2×1014Hz to 4×1014Hz, the energy of each individual photon in the radiation (A) does not change. (B) is multiplied by 2. (C) is divided by 2. (D) is multiplied by 3. (E) is divided by 3.

(D) is multiplied by 3. Yes. The energy is proportional to the frequency. Divide 6×1014Hz by 2×1014Hz and get just 6/2 = 3 so that the frequency was multiplied by 3. That means the photon energy was multiplied by that same amount.

If the frequency of electromagnetic radiation goes from 2×1014Hz to 6×1014Hz, the energy of each individual photon in the radiation (A) does not change. (B) is multiplied by 2. (C) is divided by 2. (D) is multiplied by 3. (E) is divided by 3.

(B) is multiplied by 2. Yes. The energy is proportional to the frequency. Divide 6×1014Hz by 3×1014Hz and get just 6/3 = 2 so that the frequency was multiplied by 2. That means the photon energy was multiplied by that same amount.

If the frequency of electromagnetic radiation goes from 3×1014Hz to 6×1014Hz, the energy of each individual photon in the radiation (A) does not change. (B) is multiplied by 2. (C) is divided by 2. (D) is multiplied by 3. (E) is divided by 3.

(D) is multiplied by 3. Yes. The energy is proportional to the frequency. Divide 9×1014Hz by 3×1014Hz and get just 9/3 = 3 so that the frequency was multiplied by 3. That means the photon energy was multiplied by that same amount.

If the frequency of electromagnetic radiation goes from 3×1014Hz to 9×1014Hz, the energy of each individual photon in the radiation (A) does not change. (B) is multiplied by 2. (C) is divided by 2. (D) is multiplied by 3. (E) is divided by 3.

(B) a spectrum.

Light that has been spread out to show the frequencies or colors that are present is called (A) an energy level diagram. (B) a spectrum. (C) a speculum. (D) a frequency diagram. (E) an absorption diagram.

(C) forming an acid which reacts with calcium in rocks.

Liquid water tends to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere of a planet by (A) displacing it upward until it escapes from the planet's gravity. (B) dissolving it. (C) forming an acid which reacts with calcium in rocks. (D) splitting the carbon from the oxygen.

(C) the pressure is very close to the triple point of water.

Mars retains a carbon dioxide atmosphere because (A) there is no life there. (B) there is no liquid water there. (C) the pressure is very close to the triple point of water. (D) it has plate tectonic activity like Earth.

(A) Use the gravitational attraction of a massive spacecraft to pull the asteroid off course.

Of the following methods for eliminating an asteroid threat, which one would be affected least by the unknown composition and condition of the asteroid? (A) Use the gravitational attraction of a massive spacecraft to pull the asteroid off course. (B) Deflect or shatter the asteroid with a nuclear explosion. (C) Deflect or shatter the asteroid by crashing a missile into it. (D) Land on the asteroid and attach a rocket to it.

(C) decrease as the water dissolves it to form an acid that combines with surface rocks.

On a world with liquid water but no life, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would (A) be stable because dissolved carbon dioxide comes out of solution whenever the carbon dioxide pressure drops. (B) increase as the water releases it from surface rocks. (C) decrease as the water dissolves it to form an acid that combines with surface rocks.

(D) Silanes tend to explode in the presence of oxygen.

Silicon atoms can bond to other silicon atoms to form silane molecules in much the same way that carbon atoms can bond to other carbon atoms to form sugars and other hydrocarbon molecules. What is the key difficulty with basing life on silicon and silanes instead of on carbon compounds such as glucose? (A) Glucose stores more energy than silanes. (B) Silicon is less abundant than carbon. (C) Silanes cannot contain hydrogen. (D) Silanes tend to explode in the presence of oxygen. (E) Silanes cannot release energy by oxidation.

(B) 1500 people per event. Yes. To calculate it, divide the number of casualties (30,000,000) by the number of events needed to produce an impact (21,000). Here is how to work it out without a calculator: 30,000,000/21,000 = 30,000/21 = (30/21)×1000 30/21 is really close to 30/20 or 3/2, which is 1 1/2 or 1.5, so the answer must be really close to 1.5×1000 or 1500. If you work it out exactly, you get 1.429 ×1000 = 1429 and that is closer to 1500 than to any of the other answers.

The asteroid 2008 AF4 has one chance in 21,000 of hitting the Earth between the years 2078 and 2100. The asteroid is 390 meters in diameter compared to 250 meters in diameter for Apophis. Assuming that an impact could cause the death of 30,000,000 people the average death rate for this type of event is approximately (A) 500 people per event. (B) 1500 people per event. (C) 2000 people per event. (D) 2500 people per event. (E) 3000 people per event.

(C) finding most asteroids that are capable of global effects.

The current effort to defend the Earth against space impacts consists of (A) finding places to hide. (B) finding most near-Earth asteroids. (C) finding most asteroids that are capable of global effects. (D) building a space-patrol fleet of asteroid-killers. (E) re-directing Star-Wars anti-missile weapons.

(D) hydrogen.

The most common element in the universe is (A) water. (B) helium. (C) silicon. (D) hydrogen. (E) carbon.

(E) convection currents in the Earth's mantle.

The motion of tectonic plates is driven by (A) the Sun's gravitational attraction. (B) the Moon's gravitational attraction. (C) asteroid impacts. (D) convection currents in the Earth's core. (E) convection currents in the Earth's mantle.

(C) are kicked out of the asteroid belt by Jupiter's gravity.

The number of near-Earth asteroids is large because they (A) are in stable orbits and have nowhere else to go. (B) are left over from the formation of our Moon. (C) are kicked out of the asteroid belt by Jupiter's gravity. (D) are the remains of a destroyed planet near the Earth.

(A) a descending convection current in the Earth's mantle.

Underneath a place where the sea floor is disappearing into a deep ocean trench, one expects there to be (A) a descending convection current in the Earth's mantle. (B) a horizontal current in the Earth's mantle. (C) a bubble in the Earth's mantle. (D) a magnetic domain in the Earth's core. (E) a rising convection current in the Earth's mantle.

(A) a rising convection current in the Earth's mantle.

Underneath a place where the sea floor is spreading, one expects there to be (A) a rising convection current in the Earth's mantle. (B) a descending convection current in the Earth's mantle. (C) a horizontal current in the Earth's mantle. (D) a bubble in the Earth's mantle. (E) a magnetic domain in the Earth's core.

(E) heat radiation.

Which of the following types of radiation has the lowest frequency on this list? (A) red light. (B) infrared light. (C) green light. (D) X-Rays (E) heat radiation.

(C) infrared light.

Which of the following types of radiation has the lowest frequency on this list? (A) ultraviolet light. (B) green light. (C) infrared light. (D) X-Rays. (E) red light.

(B) microwaves.

Which of the following types of radiation has the lowest frequency on this list? (A) ultraviolet light. (B) microwaves. (C) infrared light. (D) X-Rays. (E) red light.

(D) Radio waves.

Which of the following types of radiation has the lowest frequency on this list? ](A) red light. (B) infrared light. (C) green light. (D) Radio waves. (E) heat radiation.